TONIGHT. MORE THAN ONE- THOUSAND PEOPLE GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY TODAY IN GORHAM... TODAY'S RAIN MADE THE FOURTH ANNUAL "INTO THE MUD CHALLENGE" EVEN FILTHIER. THE UNIQUE TWO AND A HALF MILE RACE IS FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF OBSTACLES AND MUDDY FUN TO ENJOY. THE CHALLENGE ISN'T JUST FOR THE PARTIPANTS..BUT FOR THE RACE ORGANIZERS AS WELL. THEY'RE STUDENTS FROM U-S-M, AND CLASSMATES IN ONE OF THE SCHOOL'S EVENT MANAGEMENT COURSES. EACH YEAR, STUDENTS SPEND AN ENTIRE SEMESTER PLANNING AND ORGANIZING THE MUD CHALLENGE FOR A GRADE. PROFESSORS SAY THIS KIND OF LESSON CAN'T BE TAUGHT FROM BEHIND A DESK. "it's very experiential it's hands on, there is real money being exchanged, there are real people showing up and it's a live event and it's an experience you don't get in every class." PROCEEDS FROM THE CHALLENGE BENEFIT THE USM SPORT MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND. é